Chapter 2

The auction gala was held in the Dark Moon Pack's great hall. I walked in on Leo's arm and immediately spotted Selena.

Leo's childhood sweetheart. The one who'd been flaunting that Christmas tree on Ins.

She wore a wine-red velvet gown, full makeup, and sauntered toward us with a smile.

"Sophia, long time no see." She tilted her head and looked me over. "Rough night? You're so pale even foundation can't cover it."

I glanced at the dark circles under her eyes and said flatly, "You don't look so great yourself. Those bags are about to slide off your face."

Her smile froze for a split second.

Of course she looked wrecked. A whole night of that would leave marks no amount of makeup could hide.

Leo cut in: "Selena's young. She hasn't been out much. I just brought her along to broaden her horizons. Don't mind her, babe."

I said nothing. Just tugged the corner of my mouth.

The auction reached its final lot — the showpiece rolled onto the display stand.

A necklace. "The Eternal Heart."

Said to be carved from the moonstone of an ancient Wolf King, it glowed with a cold, ethereal blue light.

Leo glanced at me to gauge my reaction, then raised his paddle.

After a fierce round of bidding, "The Eternal Heart" was his.

He pushed the box toward me. "For you."

Before I could say a word, my phone buzzed again.

A message from Selena.

[Wanna bet? One word from me and that necklace is mine.]

I stared at the screen. Didn't reply.

Sure enough, within a minute, Leo's phone rang too.

He checked it. His expression didn't change, but his fingertips tightened slightly.

I caught a glimpse of the screen from the corner of my eye.

[Leo, that necklace is gorgeous. Didn't you say you'd give me the best of everything? Did you forget what you promised me?]

Below the text was a selfie — Selena with her head tilted, one hand resting on her lower belly, lips pouted.

Leo smiled at me. "Babe, sit tight for a sec. I need to make a call."

He walked to the corner, his back to me, speaking in a low voice.

I watched his retreating figure, and the last trace of warmth in my chest went cold.

The gala ended. The crowd thinned out.

Leo came over. "Selena had too much to drink. Let's drop her off on the way home."

He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I nodded. None of it mattered anymore.

On the drive back, the car turned onto a remote forest road. The bushes on both sides suddenly thrashed violently.

A second later, three dark shapes burst from the shadows and ripped through the roof.

An ambush from a rival pack.

The car flipped hard. I was flung against the door, my shoulder slamming into the frame. A sharp bolt of pain.

In the chaos, I watched Leo lunge — toward the passenger seat.

Selena screamed and curled into a ball. Leo pulled her into his arms, shielding her with his own back as glass shattered around them.

One arm around Selena, the other shifting into claws, he struck at the attackers rushing in.

Not once did he look back at me.

I slumped in the backseat, blood running from my shoulder, consciousness going hazy.

A memory surfaced — that evening three years ago.

In the forests of the Northern Territories, when rogue arrows tipped with silver came flying, Leo hadn't hesitated. He'd thrown himself in front of me.

Three arrows buried in his back. He'd gritted his teeth and turned around, blood all over his face, and still managed a grin. "You okay?"

I remembered trembling, sobbing, pressing my hands against the wounds on his back as blood seeped through my fingers.

He'd said, "Don't cry. I'm here. No one's going to touch you."

But now. Same danger, same split second.

The person he moved to protect on instinct — it wasn't me anymore.

I closed my eyes in that wrecked car and finally understood, completely, with absolute clarity —

Leo's heart had left me a long time ago.